Apple hasn't graced us with an iPod cell phone combo, formerly referred to as the fabled iPhone, but the fever-pitch interest in such a device indicates there is likely a good market if Apple wants a piece of it. The buzz surrounding an Apple phone, according to the LA Daily News, shows more than the consumer interest. It also indicates that Apple could have a big impact on the cell phone market.

An analyst from the research firm iSuppli commented "People view Apple as having the potential to create a market disruption."

Part of that disruption stems from the fact that so far none of the cell phone/MP3 players on the market have the same level of customer satisfaction that the iPod enjoys. Cumbersome interfaces and difficult to use music download services are both common complaints.

The iPod's reputation for ease of use, coupled with the iTunes Store, makes an iPod cell phone a very enticing concept.

Phil Leigh, president of consulting firm Inside Digital Media, said "I know if I buy a phone that says 'iPhone' that it's going to work well with iTunes and it's going to play music. Right now there are probably a dozen phones that hold music and I don't know which online sites they work with."

Which is exactly why consumers and investors are looking to Apple for an alternative to today's hybrid phone offerings.

Whether or not Apple plans to actually release an iPod cell phone remains to be seen. But consumers and analysts have already done the market research for the company, and it looks like they want the iPod phone.